Pensioners are faced with an 18% increase in council tax bills

Many elderly people are upset by the impending 18% rise in Devon's council tax bills.

Only last week it was revealed that South West Water bills will rise by an average of 7.5% from April - a further blow to pensioners.

Their incomes only rise by the level of inflation and many say there is no way they can find the extra money.

Many are caught in a trap where they are not entitled to state benefits but are still struggling on a fixed income.

The value of their savings has fallen sharply.

I just can't afford to pay the extra money and I am not going to pay it Albert Venison, of the Devon and Cornwall Pensioners' Convention Join the debate at BBC Devon

Peter Cox, from Kingsbridge, said: "I will go to prison if they want to put me in prison.

"Let's hope that doesn't happen, but they will have a fight on their hands."

That view was supported by Albert Venison, of the Devon and Cornwall Pensioners' Convention.

"I am 78, so why should I care about going to prison for a couple of weeks?

"I just can't afford to pay the extra money and I am not going to pay it," he said.

Direct action

The Pensioners' Convention says the time for rallies and petitions is over and direct action is the only way forward in their campaign.

But Devon County Council deputy leader Brian Greenslade defended the council's position.

"We don't like the situation any more than anyone else," he said.

"But we have been put in it by the switch of funds away from the southern counties to the metropolitan areas in the north of England.

Balance budgets

"There are 34 county councils in England, and 22 of those have increased their council taxes by double-figure percentages. We haven't all got it wrong, there is some problem there."

Cllr Greenslade said a recent benefits take-up campaign showed there was around �54m of benefits that were not being claimed in the county.

"I can't answer individual issues about how people balance their own budgets," he said.